Friction hitches for climbing lines

Mike Poor · 2nd April 2007, 09:14 PM

I've really liked the reliability and simplicity of the schwabish. the other day I tried the icicle hitch (a variation of the schwabish) and liked it too I'll try to get a photo sometime.

Fairfield · 4th April 2007, 07:39 AM

Here is anoher couple angles for you to see it.

Tim Craig · 6th April 2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevMcRev

Heres my VT set up. I like splices on everything i can, keeps it neat.
The 2nd biner on the 1st biner rather than the D's helps too and makes for quick disconnect/reconnect over branches in the way of where im heading.
The stubai micro pulley as a slack tender for 1 handed advancement is the cheapest slimmest one ive found.

I use a 1/2" New England hiV with a mini VT bit like boas for lanyard on prunes & a 5/8 steel core with petzl macrograb for takedowns.

Trev,

Does the sit back effect with the VT not annoy you?

And all that slack you have to take up before the slack tender pulley advances the hitch?

TrevMcRev · 9th April 2007, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Craig

Trev,

Does the sit back effect with the VT not annoy you?

And all that slack you have to take up before the slack tender pulley advances the hitch?

Ive tried using the pulley straight off the biner between the VT but didnt like it so live with this. I usually use a mini biner rather than that leash clip which shortens it up a bit but it vanished......

Wood Elf · 16th April 2007, 07:57 PM

Howdy,
I personally climb on the Schwabisch, finding that it's "bar" is in the perfect location for my right thumb to grip and loosen/tighten the knot, much like the Blakes is. In my experience this knot advances easier after loading than the Blakes hitch however. Sorry I don't have a camera handy but found a great article by Mark Adams on this topic, with good photos. Hope he doesn't mind my posting this link: http://www.????????.com/pdf/climbing_hitches.pdf

alba · 17th April 2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Generally you should use a diameter smaller than your climbing line.

The loop is usually tied together with a double fishermans but I have seen spliced ones.

I girth hitch it to the carabiner so it doesn't slide around.

You can have 4 or 6 wraps, try it out for yourself, but not at 100' please!

The advantage of this hitch is it's multi-directional, unlike the Blakes if you get to the end of you climbing line you can use the tail and keep on going ... works in either direction. Due to this fact, and also it will grip if you just let go I think it's relatively bulletproof and usually get the new guys climbing on it.

The disadvantage is it's a smaller hitch and I get finger burns, it can get too grippy and need dressing again.

Great idea using the girth hitch ekka never thought of doing that before will give it a try, never climbed much with blakes hitchs myself allways spliced my own prussics, but just ordered some marlow gecko ropes and new prussic cordage so will start to experament with new methods, thax for the pics thow.

Ekka · 17th April 2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alba

allways spliced my own prussics, but just ordered some marlow gecko ropes and new prussic cordage so will start to experament with new methods, thax for the pics thow.

Do you splice your own rope ... good one, I can only splice 3 strand!

Also, according to this diagram http://www.marlowropes.com/public/pa...fm?page_id=250 they put a tag on the end of the rope near the splice, that would have to be a PITA, does it get stuck in crotches when you are pulling your rope out? If that was on the end of my line it would get stuck 100% of the time in palm heads.

alba · 21st April 2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Do you splice your own rope ... good one, I can only splice 3 strand!

Also, according to this diagram http://www.marlowropes.com/public/pa...fm?page_id=250 they put a tag on the end of the rope near the splice, that would have to be a PITA, does it get stuck in crotches when you are pulling your rope out? If that was on the end of my line it would get stuck 100% of the time in palm heads.

the marlows still have not arrived yet but have climbed with the yale ropes before and never had any problems with them at least not on the Angiosperms that i have climbed, but they can get stuck on some of the Gymnosperms mostly sitka causes probs , not so much of a prob with Gymnosperms such as Pinus sylvestris, i like this place people actually talk to you makes a change. oh yes for got to say that anyone in the uk i got my ropes from http://www.abbeypro.co.uk/ i was ?55 for a 25m 13 mm sewn eye rope and ? 70 for a 35m 13mm sewn eye rope, and ?12 for 4x 9mm at 1.8m each this included vat and postage prity good price i thought if you stay in the uk it might be worth your while looking them up they are less price than some other suppliers i have delt with and very helpful, no i do not work for them, thanx for replying ekka great place to be when haave spare time, just thought i would the real name is joe the alba is the old word for scotland.

Marc · 11th May 2007, 04:32 PM

Been climbing on that Marlow rope for a while now Alba, its o.k cheap rope, fairly robust, my only complaint is its to hard compared to Yale or New England.
But its a vast improvement over there old rope.

Most Arb suppliers are selling it cheap now so it is good value.

Fairfield looked at our knot I really like the bee-line hitch cord, its damn expensive stuff though. I've only used the bee-line with a knute, yours looks like a distil?
Do you have the legs long because of the splice or is that how you prefer it?
I tie mine with fishermans because its simpler adjustable and i can make the legs shorter, beside's i can go through hitch cord pretty quick.

I'll post pics of my set-up soon

TREE-SURFER · 15th May 2007, 12:50 PM

I just got myself one of those ART rope devices, looks good

Just waiting for a chance to use it......

newguy18 · 27th June 2007, 06:04 PM

Am i the only one who perfers the taut line hitch?

Ekka · 28th June 2007, 01:34 AM

Everyones into split tails these days, tautline is like vintage material but some vintages prefer it.

Sean Freeman · 28th June 2007, 02:09 AM

Its been a long while since i spent the whole day climbing and cutting but when i do (and I will again) I reduce the amount of gear on my harness dramatically, so in traversing the canopy or from tree to tree with ground support (new TIP set from ground by Tim) I'll use the tail of my line tie a figure 8 and use a tautline I like it for that application, simple and reliable.

jim1nz · 30th June 2007, 07:14 AM

Im on the new Ocean polyester 10mm, EXCELLENT.

I run a VT set up, i can give you a picture if anyone is interested. Variations are massive with this knot but when you get it right its perfect, selftailing, smooth...

It has the polyester core insteed of the spectra core as the melting point is much higher, the sheath contains carbon fibre composite material so it lasts a long time also.

jtrouse · 30th June 2007, 05:30 PM

Just wondered where you got the ocean polyster from? is it the stuff the the stiching or have you just spliced it?

JohN Dee · 1st July 2007, 01:30 AM

I personally climb on a Martin hitch, smooth as ascent, and a nice lock when your sitting on it. It self tends and with the micro pulley it's smooth as.

15th May 2007, 12:50 PM	#35 (permalink)
TREE-SURFER Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 409	I just got myself one of those ART rope devices, looks good Just waiting for a chance to use it...... __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work Andy@Aerial-Arborist.co.uk What experts say about TOPPING

27th June 2007, 06:04 PM	#36 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,646	taut line hitch Am i the only one who perfers the taut line hitch? __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

28th June 2007, 01:34 AM	#37 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,847	Everyones into split tails these days, tautline is like vintage material but some vintages prefer it. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

28th June 2007, 02:09 AM	#38 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,669	Its been a long while since i spent the whole day climbing and cutting but when i do (and I will again) I reduce the amount of gear on my harness dramatically, so in traversing the canopy or from tree to tree with ground support (new TIP set from ground by Tim) I'll use the tail of my line tie a figure 8 and use a tautline I like it for that application, simple and reliable. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

30th June 2007, 07:14 AM	#39 (permalink)
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 296	Im on the new Ocean polyester 10mm, EXCELLENT. I run a VT set up, i can give you a picture if anyone is interested. Variations are massive with this knot but when you get it right its perfect, selftailing, smooth... It has the polyester core insteed of the spectra core as the melting point is much higher, the sheath contains carbon fibre composite material so it lasts a long time also. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

2nd April 2007, 09:14 PM	#26 (permalink)
Mike Poor Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Urbana, IL,usa Posts: 76	I've really liked the reliability and simplicity of the schwabish. the other day I tried the icicle hitch (a variation of the schwabish) and liked it too I'll try to get a photo sometime.

16th April 2007, 07:57 PM	#30 (permalink)
Wood Elf I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 3	Howdy, I personally climb on the Schwabisch, finding that it's "bar" is in the perfect location for my right thumb to grip and loosen/tighten the knot, much like the Blakes is. In my experience this knot advances easier after loading than the Blakes hitch however. Sorry I don't have a camera handy but found a great article by Mark Adams on this topic, with good photos. Hope he doesn't mind my posting this link: http://www.????????.com/pdf/climbing_hitches.pdf

11th May 2007, 04:32 PM	#34 (permalink)
Marc Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	Been climbing on that Marlow rope for a while now Alba, its o.k cheap rope, fairly robust, my only complaint is its to hard compared to Yale or New England. But its a vast improvement over there old rope. Most Arb suppliers are selling it cheap now so it is good value. Fairfield looked at our knot I really like the bee-line hitch cord, its damn expensive stuff though. I've only used the bee-line with a knute, yours looks like a distil? Do you have the legs long because of the splice or is that how you prefer it? I tie mine with fishermans because its simpler adjustable and i can make the legs shorter, beside's i can go through hitch cord pretty quick. I'll post pics of my set-up soon

30th June 2007, 05:30 PM	#40 (permalink)
jtrouse Sappling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 38	Just wondered where you got the ocean polyster from? is it the stuff the the stiching or have you just spliced it?

1st July 2007, 01:30 AM	#41 (permalink)
JohN Dee Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 744	I personally climb on a Martin hitch, smooth as ascent, and a nice lock when your sitting on it. It self tends and with the micro pulley it's smooth as. __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue